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Palestinian Manasra Released After Serving Sentence in Israeli Prison
Ahmed Manasra, a Palestinian man convicted in connection with a stabbing attack in Israel, has been released after completing his prison sentence, according to his lawyer, Khaled Zabarqa. Manasra’s case drew international attention due to his young age at the time of the incident and subsequent allegations of mistreatment during his detention in Israeli facilities.
Background of the Case
The 2015 stabbings, involving Manasra and his cousin, were perceived by Israelis as evidence of youth indoctrination. Following the incident, Manasra was struck by a vehicle while fleeing. A graphic video circulated online depicted him injured on the street as an Israeli bystander verbally abused him. This footage sparked outrage in the Arab world, with many initially believing he had died. Israeli authorities later released a photograph of Manasra receiving hospital treatment.
Conviction and Deteriorating Health
Manasra was subsequently found guilty of attempted murder and given a nine-and-a-half-year prison term. Medical professionals reported that he developed schizophrenia while incarcerated and exhibited self-harming behavior and aggression towards others. Numerous appeals for his early release were rejected on the basis of his conviction for a terror-related offense.
Post-Release Concerns and Allegations of Rights Violations
Since his release, Manasra’s family has refrained from media communication. “Until now, Ahmed’s health state is unknown, and the family’s priority is to diagnose and treat him and follow up on his health situation to lessen the side-effects that Ahmed might face,” stated Khaled Zabarqa.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Israeli NGO Adalah, have accused Israeli authorities of violating international law in their handling of Manasra’s case. Specifically, they cite his interrogation at the age of 13 without legal representation or a guardian present.
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Claims of Mistreatment During Interrogation and Imprisonment
Leaked video footage allegedly showed Israeli security personnel verbally abusing and intimidating a visibly distressed Manasra during interrogation. Adalah released a statement asserting, “Manasra’s rights were systematically stripped since his imprisonment. He has only been permitted to see his immediate family through a glass partition, without physical contact.” The organization further claimed, “He has been completely denied the right to education and deprived of other fundamental rights. His right to dignity was violated, including through two years spent in solitary confinement, and his right to health was disregarded due to continuous medical neglect by the Israel Prison Service.”
Response from Israeli Prison Authorities
The Israeli Prison Service maintains that all detainees are held in accordance with international legal standards and that all allegations of mistreatment undergo investigation.
Worsening Prison Conditions and Palestinian Accounts
Recently freed Palestinian prisoners report a significant decline in conditions within Israeli prisons since the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. Many released during the recent Gaza ceasefire appeared frail and unwell, with some requiring immediate hospitalization.
These former detainees have described instances of beatings, severe overcrowding, inadequate medical attention, outbreaks of scabies, and unsanitary conditions.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, has publicly stated that he instructed stricter measures against security prisoners.
Death of Palestinian Child Detainee
Last month, Walid Khalid Ahmed, a 17-year-old Palestinian youth from the occupied West Bank, died after collapsing in an Israeli jail. He had been detained for six months without formal charges, and his death is under unclear circumstances. Walid Khalid Ahmed is reported to be the first Palestinian child to die in Israeli detention. A post-mortem examination conducted by an Israeli doctor indicated that he suffered from severe malnutrition.